SportsMole previews Friday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Defending champions Ivory Coast 2025 will continue their perfect record Africa Cup of Nations Qualified when they welcome Sierra Leone to the Laurent Pokou Stadium on Friday.
The hosts currently top Group G with six points from a possible six, while their visitors sit third in the group, having failed to win in their opening two matches.
Competition preview
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Aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back AFCON titles since Egypt in 2008 and 2010, Ivory Coast have made light work of their two qualifying trips to Zambia and Chad so far.
Fay emergedThey secured 2-0 victories in both the aforementioned matches in the space of three days. Jean-Philippe GrassoA three-time netter.
Les Elephants are now unbeaten in 10 straight games in all competitions and have not conceded in their last four since beating Uruguay 2-1 in a March friendly.
Ivory Coast are well-placed to advance to their 11th AFCON tournament on the bounce and three points from their next game will move them to the brink of qualification.
Friday's game will be the 10th against the visitors, taking six wins and three draws from the previous nine editions.
Sierra Leone showed great instincts to come from behind on two occasions in a 3-2 win over Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on 10 September.
It came after a lackluster goalless stalemate against Chad Amido KarimThe men gave their lone point in the group to date in their opening AFCON qualifier four days earlier.
Despite this being their first defeat in four matches, Lyon Stars have managed just one win from their last eight engagements either side of the new year.
As a result, they have some work to do in both their World Cup and AFCON qualifying groups, but the latter is an immediate concern for Sierra Leone.
Having conceded 13 goals in their last four matches in opposition territory, Friday's visitors should be wary of another chase away from home.
Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Ivory Coast Format (All Matches):
Sierra Leone Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Sierra Leone Format (All Matches):
Group messages
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Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra He is ineligible to play any part for Ivory Coast in this as he is recovering from a minor setback.
Amat Diallo He is back in the picture for the home side and could be the biggest beneficiary of Adingra's absence as he aims for a rare international start.
Jean-Philippe Grasso has been hauled in six times in his last seven games for club and country, and will keep an eye forward.
Hindolo Mustafa The latter needed just 14 minutes to open his Sierra Leone account in his second appearance and was rewarded with a place in the playing XI.
Thirty two years old Steven Calker He is set to register his 16th cap for the overseas side, having established himself as a mainstay since switching his international allegiance from England.
Ivory Coast Probable Starting Lineup:
to fly Opera, Ndika, Agpado, Shingo; Cherry, Cassie; Diakite, Pepe, Diallo; Grosso
Sierra Leone Possible Starting Lineup:
room; Samadia, Kalkar, Gabia, Jallo; Koroma, Silla; Carbo, arm, leg; Bakayoko
We say: Ivory Coast 3-1 Sierra Leone
Not only do Ivory Coast boast a strong squad on paper, they are also in tremendous form ahead of Friday's encounter and we fully expect them to cruise to a very comfortable win at the end of the 90 minutes.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
